Promoting Policy Reform and Collective Action Through the 2030 Water Resources Group

Promoting Policy Reform and Collective Action Through the 2030 Water Resources Group

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“The 2030 Water Resources Group connects actors across the golden triangle of government, civil society and business, creating a robust understanding of the challenge and a newfound respect for water. Through 2030 WRG’s work, we are advancing the necessary solutions which will close communities’ water supply gaps.”

—Muhtar Kent
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
The Coca-Cola Company

Improving and protecting water sources is critical and is the responsibility of all who rely on them. As a business operating in almost every country in the world, we believe setting sound water policy at the national level for each country is one of the most effective ways to achieve long-term water security for communities and our business. Other members of the public and private sector share this view, which became a guiding force for founding the 2030 Water Resources Group (2030 WRG).Together, with governments and civil society, we’re working to improve water policy in several countries around the world.

As a founding member of the 2030 Water Resources Group (2030 WRG), The Coca-Cola Company is working with the member organizations of 2030 WRG to help improve and advocate for needed water policy in several countries around the world. Created from research starting in 2008 by businesses and governmental organizations, 2030 WRG is a neutral, public-private platform housed within the International Finance Corporation (IFC). At the invitation of governments, 2030 WRG helps water officials accelerate reforms aimed at ensuring sustainable water resource management for the long-term development and economic growth of their countries. 2030 WRG helps countries first diagnose gaps in their water supplies, and then develop and test solutions which often range across the food, water and energy nexus. We are providing financial support to 2030 WRG and also engage directly with 2030 WRG and with the governments of countries where 2030 WRG is working.

Case Study: Working to Eliminate Water Waste in South Africa

2030 WRG is working in South Africa, where water demand is expected to rise over the next 20 years while its supply is likely to decline. The organization helped South Africa’s Department of Water Affairs foster a public-private-civil society collaboration called the Strategic Water Partners Network—South Africa (SWPN-SA), to support the South African government’s water strategy and overall national water security. SWPN-SA has developed three work streams, water efficiency and leakage reduction in municipal water distribution systems, effluent and wastewater management, and agriculture and its supply chain; and has pilot projects underway.

One solution to help close South Africa’s water gap, which has been implemented, is the No Drop incentive program to reduce municipal leakages. Adopted by the government in 2013, No Drop is responsible for eight of the major metropolitan municipalities launching non-revenue water assessments to develop of baselines, targets, and plans. These municipalities account for over 90 percent of total municipal water losses. The SWPN-SA water efficiency group has also expanded its focus to performance-based contracts and assisted in the development of a performance-based contracting toolkit. By 2015, No Drop could save 466-619 million cubic meters of water, annually worth US$1 billion.

Another solution centers on effluent and wastewater management in the mining industry, with initial focus on the mining-intensive and water-scarce Olifants region. Aggregate potential water savings from improved mine water management in this region alone is estimated at 52.2 million cubic meters per year by 2020. It is estimated that No Drop and effluent pilot projects have the potential to close South Africa’s projected 17 percent water gap by about 3.8 percent.

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world’s largest beverage company, offering over 500 brands to people in more than 200 countries. Of our 21 billion-dollar brands, 19 are available in lower- or no-sugar options to help people moderate their consumption of added sugar. In addition to our namesake Coca-Cola drinks, some of our leading brands around the world include: AdeS soy-based beverages, Ayataka green tea, Dasani waters, Del Valle juices and nectars, Fanta, Georgia coffee, Gold Peak teas and coffees, Honest Tea, Minute Maid juices, Powerade sports drinks, Simply juices, smartwater, Sprite, vitaminwater, and Zico coconut water. At Coca-Cola, we’re serious about making positive contributions to the world. That starts with reducing sugar in our drinks and continuing to introduce new ones with added benefits. It also means continuously working to reduce our environmental impact, creating rewarding careers for our associates and bringing economic opportunity wherever we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we employ more than 700,000 people around the world.

The fairlife® brand is owned by fairlife, LLC, our joint venture with Select Milk Producers, Inc., and fairlife’s products are distributed by our Company and certain of our bottling partners.